BADGE V. BRIEFCASE BATTLE STARTS AT COURTHOUSE.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

A crackdown on jaywalkers in the Los Angeles Civic Center resulted in nearly 250 citations in the past six months - and a $500,000 civil-rights lawsuit claiming that attorneys were being unfairly targeted by county police officers.

The lawsuit filed by Beverly Hills attorney Robert W. Hirsh says he has seen officers from the Los Angeles County Police cite lawyers jaywalking across Hill Street, between a parking garage and the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, while ignoring fellow law enforcement officers doing the same thing.

``It's wrong for them to play gotcha with attorneys, but turn a blind eye to their law enforcement brethren,'' said Hirsh, who was not ticketed himself. ``When the police have the temerity to violate the civil rights of attorneys, then no one in a free society is safe.''

Assistant County Counsel Roger Granbo called the lawsuit meritless.

County Police Sgt. Jeffrey Clark said the officers are responsible for patrolling the Civic Center on bicycles, and they diligently pursue jaywalkers - no matter who they are.

``There are plenty of crosswalks there, but for some reason they continuously (jaywalk). There are a lot of near-accidents,'' he said.

In the past six months, the officers have issued 244 jaywalking citations, each carrying a $114 fine.

``This agency does not get any of that money directly or indirectly,'' said Deputy Chief Steve Lieberman. He said the money is distributed to city and county government for road improvements.

In the lawsuit, Hirsh says he witnessed the officers staking out Hill Street to issue jaywalking tickets, especially to lawyers carrying large bags and carriers with boxes of documents.

``I was in a trial for weeks, and I would see the safety police darting out onto the street recklessly, giving persons who appeared to be attorneys jaywalking tickets,'' said Hirsh, who specializes in corporate, real estate and entertainment cases. ``I saw cars stopping short and almost getting into potential accidents.''

Attorney services worker Ricky Rivera said he has seen county safety officers standing behind parking garage walls or bushes and coming out to cite pedestrians for jaywalking.

``I see it every day,'' Rivera said. ``They let me go one time. They just gave me a warning.''

Calabasas resident Susan Leigh, who was waiting for her limousine outside the courthouse earlier this week, said jaywalking is dangerous, especially when there are crosswalks less than 200 feet away.

``You are taking your life into your hands,'' Leigh said. ``But I also don't think the police should be hiding behind a corner to get people.''

Sgt. Bill Urrutia of the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Traffic Division said most of the traffic fatalities that occur downtown involve jaywalking, although specific numbers were not immediately available.

Hirsh alleges in the lawsuit that he confronted two officers in the parking garage last year and asked them why they were selectively ticketing lawyers. He claims in the suit that replies included, ``Harassing lawyers made our day'' and ``If you don't leave now, we will ... arrest you and take you to jail.''

Hirsh said in the suit that the officers refused to give him their names or badge numbers, and they followed him on their bicycles as he walked to the crosswalk. Once across the street, the officers blocked his path with their bicycles, put their hands on his shoulder so he could not leave and launched into a tirade against him, he claimed in the lawsuit.

He said they left him to issue a ticket when they noticed a lawyer jaywalking. As Hirsh waited in line to get through courthouse security, he asked the guards whether they knew the names of the ``two storm troopers over there.''

When the two officers heard this, they rushed over to him near the elevators and grabbed his shoulder and arm, and one officer made racial slurs against him, he claimed in the lawsuit.

Hirsh said he complied with their demand that he apologize for the storm-trooper remark, then went to a courtroom for a scheduled hearing. About 20 minutes later, the officers entered, asked to speak to the judge in chambers and falsely claimed Hirsh was a security threat, according to the lawsuit.

After the officers left, the judge stated for the court record that Hirsh was not a security threat, according to the lawsuit.

``All of this was compounded by a cover-up after the incident,'' Hirsh said.

The $500,000 lawsuit alleges Hirsh was assaulted, battered and falsely detained for exercising his constitutional right of free speech to protest what he considered police misconduct. He also accused county government of failing to properly train, supervise and discipline the officers.

``Against this wrong, I decided to do something about it,'' Hirsh said. ``Unless people step forward to combat the deprivation of their civil rights, we soon will cease living in a free and civilized society.''

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

A pedestrian jaywalks in front of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. An attorney has filed a lawsuit claiming lawyers are most likely to be ticketed for doing that.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer